Hybrid Mini Developments.

Turbo conversion.

After the previous years times and performance from my mini with 170bhp I decided that I wanted more power and better acceleration. I had a couple of options were.

1. Programmable ecu and throttle bodies along with the way of NA tuning methods but from experience this is costly when compare bhp/£££.

2. Programmable timing and Nitrous. My timing curve was not right from the 8valve distributor and the tuner said there could be as much as much as 10bhp from this alone. I was not keen on the costs of refills and when you run out that is it until you get filled up again.

3. Turbo conversion. This produces good bhp/£££ but there were a lot of complications with this. The std turbo vauxhall engine but uses the big inlet manifold which does not fit. I was not keen on using a carb to fuel it so it had to be injection and with so many programmable ecu's around this seemed to be the obvious choice. Also this meant that the timing could be set alot better for the turbo engine. The best and easiest option was to try and get a inlet manifold made for the injector and found a guy in Germany of Lupertz motorsport who said they would make one to fit within the space we had. Unfortunately he did not make it to the space required and it did not fit. Thanks Heinz. After this I could not afford to waste any more money so after Rob aka Purplemonster had made his own injection plenum out of mild steel he sold me his Jenvey thorttle bodies for a very good price and this meant I had to make a plenum in order to boost the engine.

I had 4 metro turbo's lying around so I decided that it would be cheaper to use one of these by moving the housings around and making my own manifolds. The space in the engine bay looked to be very tight so in order to make the most of what room I did have I decided to put the turbo above the gearbox as this was where the most room was available. The programmable ecu that was chosen was sdsefi and was also distribitourless so also gave a little more room above the gearbox. The conversion also had to have a big intercooler to make the most power possible and after the turbo had been mounted and it had to go in the front for best effect.

I also bought a Quaife ATB differential for extra grip as it had a tendancy to wheel spin with just 170bhp.

I am bored writing now so have a look at some pictures of the conversion.

Click HERE to go to the next page of the turbo conversion.